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Post by eschildm on Apr 12, 2012 22:48:45 GMT -5
This is my first post, though I have spent many hours on this site. The Nickel Plate Road has grown a lot since the merger in 1964. So much so that it has ordered 25 more road locomotives. The Muncie, IN plant is filling this order with SD70ACes. Here I have snapped a picture of NKP 1055, just one of the newest order of SD70ACes for the Nickel Plate Road. About a month old, this locomotive is patiently awaiting its next assignment.
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Post by Randy Earle on Apr 12, 2012 23:12:03 GMT -5
SCHWING!!!! That got my attention! Very nice!!!!
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Post by spud7378 on Apr 13, 2012 6:36:49 GMT -5
nice job! that looks like mays logo randy?
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Post by tjmfishing on Apr 13, 2012 7:46:32 GMT -5
Really neat to see an old school logo on a newer EMD. Today's power all looks the same, but this helps a bit!
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Post by royalblue72 on Apr 13, 2012 8:41:05 GMT -5
SWEET!
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Post by Randy Earle on Apr 13, 2012 10:30:54 GMT -5
nice job! that looks like mays logo randy? Ah YO!
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dti406
Superintendent
Posts: 161
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Post by dti406 on Apr 13, 2012 10:55:56 GMT -5
Well at least you have the right size of lettering on the road name unlike NS on their heritage unit.
Rick J
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Post by stevef45 on Apr 13, 2012 12:10:19 GMT -5
looks alot better on an ACE then a ES44!!
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Post by T on Apr 13, 2012 13:44:24 GMT -5
I wonder how the NKP would look today If they survived and stayed with EMD for power? Tom
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Post by Randy Earle on Apr 13, 2012 13:52:44 GMT -5
It's funny. We old Nickel Platers have speculated on how dependent NKP was on ALCO for locomotives. It has been said that if the NKP was still around ALCO might have lasted longer. I know they tested GE units and the mechanical department despised them. I'm sure if the Nickel Plate was still around they would be operating units similar to the Bessemer & Lake Erie in regards to age and rebuilds. Even at this time, I'll bet they would be operating older SD40-2s and GP-50s or 60s. Imagine a SD45T-2 in NKP colors rebuilt as a SD40-3.
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Post by T on Apr 13, 2012 17:10:40 GMT -5
I seem to recall the NKP having EMD GP30's and a GP35 rd.No.910 I think.
Tom
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Post by simulatortrain on Apr 14, 2012 21:43:31 GMT -5
That looks too good! Great work!
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Post by redneckwes on Apr 16, 2012 20:08:52 GMT -5
HOT DAMN!!! Nice Job!!
Tom, GP30's 900-909, GP35 910.
I can imagine today's NKP, the shop forces at Brewster stripping the ill fated SD50 fleet to rebuild into new SD59ECO's. The yard at Bellevue being switched by SD40M-2 rebuilds. And the GP9 fleet, rebuilt several times already, waiting it's trip through the shops to become GP22ECO's.
All the while the vaunted fleet of GP40-2's and GP60's on the manifest trains slowly giving way to the new guard of ACE's like 1055.
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Post by T on Apr 16, 2012 20:39:11 GMT -5
Wasn't GP35 rd. No. 910 NKP's last new loco? Wonder how NKP would have looked if they had purchased ALCO's C-630 and C-636 models.
Tom
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Post by redneckwes on Apr 16, 2012 20:46:41 GMT -5
I thought the C420 was, but I'm not 100% sure.
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Post by T on Apr 16, 2012 20:58:53 GMT -5
Possibly from ALCO rd.No.578 I think it was a wreck replacement and was painted blue and the only C-420 painted in blue.
Tom
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Post by redneckwes on Apr 17, 2012 1:43:57 GMT -5
Possibly from ALCO rd.No.578 I think it was a wreck replacement and was painted blue and the only C-420 painted in blue. Tom She might have been repainted in blue later, but 578 was delivered in the wide stripe NKP black and yellow.
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Post by redneckwes on Apr 17, 2012 2:40:17 GMT -5
A short history of NKP motive power, post 1964 (In my warped mind) After the narrowly avoided takeover attempt by the PRR backed N&W the NKP found its self in a precarious situation. A syndicate of Cleveland based business backed partially by the C&O stepped in and under better circumstances made an offer and purchased a controlling interest in the NKP, soon after the holding company would add the AC&Y and P&WV merging them into the NKP in 1965. The state of the former AC&Y and P&WV motive power forced the NKP to reassign most of it’s RS3’s and a number of GP7’s to those lines. The new owners were able to arrange financing for new power to handle main line operations, allowing the older units to begin replacing some of the more maintenance intensive units from smaller manufacturers. In 1965 a second order arrived of GP35’s numbered 911-919, differing only in small details from older sister 910. Mid 1966 saw the first order of GP40’s arrive as 700-709 (2nd) the GP18’s being displaced into the 800’s More GP40’s would arrive in 1968 as 710-719, and in 1971 as 720-724. Late 1966 saw the delivery of C430’s 580-594. Always an Alco loyalist the NKP became the owner of the largest fleet of C430’s, though it was not enough to save Alco the NKP’s fleet hung on until the mid 1980’s before being replaced by secondhand ex Conrail GP40’s Continuing retirements of older Alco’s FM’s and Baldwin’s brought about the first order of GP38’s in 1968 in the form of NKP 600-614. GP38-2’s would follow in the 70’s as 615-629. In 1970 ten SD38’s numbered 360-369 arrived for the new Bellevue hump yard. In 1964 the C&O had gained control of the Western Maryland, In 1968 the NKP’s ownership took a controlling interest in the C&O, reversing the roles of the two companies and gradually reestablishing the Van’s empire. Although jointly owned the three roads, (NKP/C&O/WM) continued to be operated separately and maintain separate locomotive rosters. In 1974 through its subsidiary Northrail Holdings the company gained a majority interest in the Erie Lackawanna and the D&H. The EL being merged corporately in 1978 and the D&H in 1990. Northrail Holdings also gained a controlling interest in the Detroit Toledo and Ironton after most of its interchange partners had vanished into mergers, the DT&I was merged into the NKP in 1980. Rationalization of the NKP’s numbering system started after the DT&I merger in 1980, and the absorption of a good portion of the bankrupt Rock Island, (Northrail having financed part of its locomotive fleet) With this chance the GP38/38-2 fleet gained new numbers in the 2000’s, the GP30M/GP35’s in the 2500’s and the GP40/40-2 fleet in the 3000’s. Rebuilds of GP7/9’s began to appear in the 1600 series. Secondhand GP38’s and GP40’s arrived in the 1983-84 period, effectively bringing the Alco era to a close. (Some units were passed on to the D&H) Rebuilt former Conrail SD35’s (SD38R’s) arrived in 1985 ending the era of the RSD12. One final order for GP40-2’s from EMD in 1985 closed the book on the NKP’s favorite four motor unit, although they did purchase several more batches of secondhand 40/40-2’s through the 1990’s, including a number of former CN GP40-2W’s A small batch of SD50’s joined the railroad in the mid 80’s but not in the sheer numbers purchased by sister roads EL and C&O numbered 8000-8014 they soured the NKP on new EMD’s for a number of years, leading the NKP to purchase and rebuild a number of SD40 type locomotives for grain and coal service between 1988 and 1998, the earliest of which were rebuilt from former SD45’s. As the years rolled on the NKP finally returned back to EMD for GP59’s (25) and GP60’s (15) in the early 90’s and then small orders of SD70 and SD70M units while EL and C&O bought fairly large orders of GE’s C40-8/8W and -9W. After 2005 the NKP began to enter a new phase motive power rationalization, with older GP40-2R’s being paired with road slugs replacing pairs of GP9/18’s and the gradual withdraw of the fleet of rebuilt GP7/9/18’s. (About 50 left as of 2012), the last un-rebuilt GP’s being retired about 1998. In the late 2000’s (’07-’09) the road purchased a number of secondhand SD40-2 type locomotives and had them extensively rebuilt allowing the further retirement of older unit’s assigned to the former Rock Island. As of 2012 the NKP purchased a number of former Oakway and SOO SD60 units. Begun a rebuild program for the remaining GP30/35’s into GP22ECO’s and has accepted it’s second batch of SD70ACEs, and a small number of 4400hp GE AC traction locomotives, finally breaking EMD’s lock on NKP orders.
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Post by icghogger on Apr 17, 2012 6:51:56 GMT -5
Quite a back story, Wes, can't wait to see that fleet of power come together!!
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Post by royalblue72 on Apr 17, 2012 7:12:15 GMT -5
Cool backstory.
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